The scene plays out in all too many teams. There is a metaphorical elephant that is blocking progress, (although each person sees the elephant a little differently) but no one thinks it’s their role to start the discussion. So the team is at a standstill. Some wishing to go forward, some wishing to go backward most in utter frustration.
Fear of feedback is one of the most disabling team dysfunctions. Without the ability to address critical issues teams will have boring meetings, resort to politics and personal attacks, and fail to reach full potential.
Listed below are 10 reasons that teams will not give feedback to each other.
10. They’re afraid that they may hurt someone’s feelings.
9. People hide behind excuses rather than learning from mistakes and being accountable
8. Tried it once and it didn’t go well.
7. Leaders resort to discipline first rather than teaching people how to learn from their mistakes.
6. Team goals are not understood.
5. Trust has not been built between team members.
4. They have not been given permission to give feedback.
3. That’s the way things are and they will never change.
2. Giving feedback will weaken the relationship.
1. They think it is the boss’s role to give feedback.
Potential Remedies,
Establish team norms that foster trust, provide clear goals and achievements, and based on accountability. Support leaders with one on one Executive Coaching to integrate new leadership skills. Soundingboard Coaching has developed several workshops on team development with specific exercises that challenge the team to develop and grow trust, accountability, commitment, and yes, conflict.
